Was once a time when we were young, Our starts were quick, our limbs grew strong. We hung together filled with glee, Flexing bough with gust or breeze. Sheltered safe from ocean’s roar, We dwelt far from its shore.

And then one day out from the sky, From whence it came the ocean’s cry. The breeze grew gust and gust grew strong, From gentle breeze to thund’rous roar, Caught off guard our branches soared.

Soared and stretched and ripped and retched, Snapped and torn and yanked from ground, Some carried away, never to be found.

And in that instant we were changed, Youth was stripped, innocence ravaged.

Destruction looming large surround, Our hearts were crushed, pieces on the ground.

But we rose proud, starting small And once again we grew tall. Most of us grew scarred and bent. A few of us grew quite grotesque.

And those that clung with locked embrace Grew woven, as wounds would not erase.

Thirty years have come and gone,Remnants borne from that great storm.

But God in His great grace adorns our scars, and places some would see are hid by seasons’ finery.

And winter bears a rarity,

For now we do curve gracefully!

This is my contribution to the Weekly Photo Challenge with the theme of Forces of Nature. The forces of nature surround us. They can inspire or they can devastate. But always there is purpose, re-creation, re-growth.

Look at these trees that endured a horrific storm. What about the storms in our lives? Surrounded with so many vivid reminders to—stay the storm, stand together, lean on one another, hold one another—why is it so hard for us?

These trees and other forces of nature find a means of survival through one another, and by it, find healing. Should we do any less?

The mission statement and eight of the categories, with only slight alteration of the wording, are the original work of Stephen Deal, taken from his Senior Convocation speech "Things We Want You to Remember".
The "My Thoughts" category under the name of "Steve", are his original work as well.
Excerpts and links may be used but kindly ask permission. Then give credit where credit is due. Thank you!
Alexandria thanks Stephen Deal for his contribution as a guest author on this blog.